Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I'm sitting on the floor next to Killer. I don't think things are looking too good for her. The vet is not encouraged that Killer isn't even trying to use her back leg, though she has had two weeks of adequan and one acupuncture session. She is now incontinent, whether due to physical reasons or her inability to go out without help and I can't help her get up and out, though she does also use the bathroom when the young lady I have hired comes over and takes her out. I talked with the oncologist and she said that sure the cancer could have spread, but between that and hip dysplasia, what's the difference? Well the difference to me has been that the hip dysplasia has at least has a chance of treatment. I had been keeping Killer in the laundry room/kitchen because of her incontinence but today bought some large mats to go over the hardwood floors in the living room and carpet in the bedroom. If she doesnt have much time left, I don't want her by herself in the laundry room. She has been waking up and crying four or five times at night, and usually has used the bathroom when that happens. I haven't had any sleep in at least a week and it is showing at work. She goes in for acupuncture on Monday, and then the regular vet wants me to bring her in for a consult.
I am sorry to hear that Killer is having more of the same problems. I agree with you that it would be nice to know if it is cancer or hip displasia causing her current problems, so you can figure out whether it is worth trying to treat them. I am not familiar with what happens with hip displasia. Would a dog have problems like this that lead her to be incontinent? And if it is cancer, you would either want to do something such as palliative radiation or relieve her suffering. Is she on decent pain meds to help her through the nights? I hope you can find some answers.
She's on 3 tramadols 3xday and one rimadyl 2xday. They don't want to raise it any more. I hate it when I try to move her and she cries. (I have nerve damage in my arm and can't pick her up by myself but if she is off the rug I try to get her back on). I don't understand the incontinence. She let loose 4 times last night between 11 pm and 5:15 pm, crying and waking me up each time. She has always been the kind of dog who never had an accident in the house. I am going to try and get a spinal xray tomorrow. Thanks for your comments and concern.
Good luck with the x-ray. I'd want that information too. Gabapentin might be a helpful yet safe pain drug to consider.
Don't have any great words of wisdom, just wanted to offer my support. This is a hard, hard journey when all goes well. To have complications to deal with really sucks the life out of you.
Many good thoughts for a confirmed diagnosis and treatment plan that will have Martie feeling better soon. She is a beautiful girl!
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
I really could use some advice. The "regular vet" told me today that Killer's hip dysplasia is so bad, and she is not responding at all to adequan, that she doesn't think that Killer will be able to walk again. Not what I wanted to hear. Killer has an appointment with the acupuncture vet on Monday for a second round of acupuncture. Those who have had the acupunture--is it really so good that it can overcome the bad diagnosis that we got today? I am trying to make that terrible decision for Killer, and if there is hope, I will follow that hope, but if it is not, then I need to spend some good time with her and say goodbye.
Martie
Sorry I can't field your question about acupuncture. Hopefully someone else can describe their experience.
Did the vet say the incontinence could be due to hip dysplasia? And would it result in times when she would wake up and cry out during the night? Will your vet do a spine x-ray today? Killer's symptoms just sound a lot like Emily's earlier this fall, plus the way it was treated when it had been dx as hip displasia.
It is not uncommon for OSA to spread to other parts of the body (many of our dogs had mets show up in the spine or other parts: Jake, Emily, Genie, Wrigley, Shilo, me - Tazzie, just to name a few off-hand). I know how horrible it is to not know what to do when your dog is sick or, worse, in pain. Hopefully someone will offer their perspective on acupuncture.
They are doing the spine xray when they can fit it in today so I don't know the results of that. They are fitting it in today as a drop off, but the vet did talk to me before hand and said that the xrays for the hips looked so bad. (This vet is not the one who did the original diagnosis and started the adequan treatment, so this is the first time she same the xrays). But she said that if my intent was to have Killer be able to get around and not be in pain, then she didn't think that was going to happen. I have a call in to the acupunture vet but haven't heard back. I guess everyone has an opinion, but Killer really isn't getting any better, and I have watched her ability to get around decline over the last two weeks. At first she was dragging herself to the bed room to sleep or to the doggy door to get out (I have since closed the door so that she wouldn't get outside while I was gone and not be able to get back in) but now she can only move herself around in a cirlcle with her front paws or roll around. She pretty much stays in one spot.
re: the incontinence, they don't seem to know why she is doing that maybe she has given up on trying to get out. I thought she had a urinary track infection because of a discharge, and finally convinced them to give me an antibiotic. But yes, she wakes up in the night crying and then urinates. Thursday night/Friday morning, it happened four times between 11 pm and 5 am, so no sleep for either of us.
We wouldn't call acupuncture a miracle cure by any means, but it does help, and certainly can't hurt. What I would strongly recommend, however, is a visit to a professional veterinary rehabilitation specialist if you have one available near you. I don't know where you are located, but we just interviewed the physical therapist and vet at CARE (California Animal Rehab) in Los Angeles, CA. It's amazing how they can turn some pretty serious cases of displaysia around. Hydrotherapy is also something to consider as swimming also does wonders.
Best wishes...
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Did your dog have any problems with her hip prior to amputation? Did she get around okay after her surgery? Some dogs have horrible hips on an xray but have adapted well so I would not go by the xrays alone. My Pitbull Kona has horrid hip xrays yet she walks well with the aid of acupuncture. It took 4 treatments until we saw an improvement in her gait.
Unfortunately the incontinence could also be secondary to a spinal met since the nerves that supply the bladder come off of the sacral spine near the tail. Let's hope the xray is positive!
Pam
I am crying as I am reading Killer's story. Emily, too, had incontinence. I didn't understand why she would all the sudden start going on the floor when we would take her out every couple of hours and she would go then too. Then it got where when we got her up to take her out she dribbled all the way outside. It was heartbreaking to watch. It was like all her spirit was leaving her. She was such a proud dog and now she seemed defeated.
We felt that if it was the hip dysplasia we would do whatever we could for her but if she was never going to be better we would let her go. Emily was the sweetest, most loving and loyal dog. We could not make her live like that. I promised her that if there was nothing we could do we would let her go. We found out it was the cancer and we kept our promise. It was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do but it was the right thing.
Maybe Killer isn't as bad as Emily was. She couldn't even roll over or get up. I pray that it is not the same thing with your baby.
You are so very much in my prayers. Cancer sucks so bad.
Debra & Angel Emily
Debra & Emily, a five year old doberman mix, who was diagnosed with an osteosaecoma. She had a right rear leg amputation on May 19, 2009. On November 10, 2009 she earned her wings and regained her fourth leg.
Oh, I'm so sorry to hear of 'Killer's' pain and discomfort. I, too can't add much – only to say I hope you baby gets some answers. The crying of a dog makes me shiver and is almost unbearable. I so sympathize with you.
I do know from experience that neck/spine pain can make a dog cry.
P.S. I did want to add - you have to get some rest somehow, someway. You can't think straight without it and it can esclalate your emotions.
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
Thank you all so much. The extensive xrays did not show any cancer in the spine or elsewhere, Killer is still cancer-free. That's the good news. The bad news is that the vet said that the damage from the dysplasia is so extensive that she does not believe that Killer will ever be able to use that bad leg, no matter how many injections of adequan she gets, she won't be able to walk. Killer hasn't been using the leg for about two weeks now. It is not realistic for me to have a wagon built for her, I can't handle putting her in and out of it, and she is pretty big for a wagon. So I am facing what to do with a wonderful, wonderful dog who fought osteosarcoma so hard, learned to walk again on one back leg, but whose only problem now is that she can't walk. It is really so unfair. I know that all of you know that word "unfair." It describes our situations so well doesn't it?
Is there any way you can get Killer to a canine rehabilitaton specialist? Where are you located?
The reason I ask is because we have been talking to a few of them these last couple of weeks, and have learned some of the amazing things that they can do with dogs of all sizes. In fact, we met a senior Dalmatian this week who was a quadrupawlegic until she got taken to a rehabilitation specialist. Nobody ever thought she would walk again and the specialist got her back on all fours in less than two weeks.
We are so sorry, this is a Tripawd pawrent's worst nightmare, we know.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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